John Townley's Aston Villa player ratings after 5-0 thumping at Crystal Palace on the final day

Aston Villa ended their 2023/24 season with a 5-0 defeat against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Unai Emery’s side came into the game having already qualified for the Champions League on Tuesday night following Tottenham’s defeat to Manchester City and were unable to move up or down from fourth position this afternoon. After beating Palace 3-1 at Villa Park back in September, Villa were looking to complete the league double over the Eagles for the first time since 1980-81.

But Oliver Glasner has made an excellent impact at Palace, taking 16 points from a possible 18 in their previous six top-flight games. The hosts also had the incentive of equalling a Premier League club record points total of 49, from 1992-93 and 2018-19.

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They started on the front foot and opened the scoring through Jean-Philippe Mateta in the ninth minute, as the striker finished past Robin Olsen after being played in on goal by Michael Olise. Emery made four changes from the side which drew 3-3 with Liverpool on Monday night, with Olsen coming in for Emi Martinez.

Leon Bailey was also out, allowing Jhon Duran to start only his third league game of the season. Calum Chambers and Clement Lenglet also came into the side.

Villa made numerous chances to restore parity shortly after falling behind, as Moussa Diaby and Ollie Watkins both passed up on good opportunities. But Palace punished the visitors in the 39th minute when Mateta grabbed his second by turning in Daniel Munoz's cross from the right wing.

Palace started the second half like they ended the first and bagged their third in the 54th minute when Eberechi Eze beat Olsen at his near post from the edge of the box. Mateta then completed his hat-trick just after the hour mark by slamming across the Swede and into the far corner from close range.

After Mateta was denied his fourth of the afternoon by a marginal offside call, Eze netted Palace's fifth of the day, beating Olsen from outside the box.

Player ratings

Robin Olsen

Olsen came into the side while Martinez was not included in the squad. It was his 10th appearance of the season in all competitions and his fourth league start. 4

Ezri Konsa

Konsa played from right-back again this afternoon, but had the tough task of keeping a lid on Eze. 4

Diego Carlos

Carlos was caught out on a few occasions when Mateta and Eze combined in and around the box. Villa's backline was second best in key moments. 4

Clement Lenglet

Mateta often pinned himself to Lenglet and got joy out of facing the Villa defence. This was Lenglet's last appearance for Villa before he returns to Barcelona - he stepped up when Emery needed him earlier in the season. 4

Lucas Digne

Digne has been one of the underrated stars of Villa's season, but like his teammates, he struggled this afternoon. 4

Calum Chambers

It might well have been Chambers' final appearance for Villa. He played in the double pivot alongside Luiz. 4

Douglas Luiz

Luiz played a good ball over the top just after Villa fell one goal behind, but Diaby couldn't convert. He picked up a booking for pulling Olise back in the second half. 5

Moussa Diaby

Diaby had Villa's best chance of the game when he went one-on-one with Dean Henderson, which he missed. 4

John McGinn

McGinn was booked early on and had to watch his step from thereon. He was replaced late on in the second half. 4

Jhon Duran

The 20-year-old cut a frustrated figure as he wasn't given the service to score. 4

Ollie Watkins

Watkins had a good chance to score his 20th league goal of the season minutes after Palace went ahead, but his header from close range was cleared off the line. 5

SUBS

Iroegbunam (for Chambers, 69'), Kellyman (for Watkins, 69'), Kesler-Hayden (for Diaby, 87'), Munroe (for McGinn, 87').

Subs not used: Gauci, Emery, Pau, Young.

GOALS

Crystal Palace: Mateta (9', 39', 63'), Eze (54', 70')

Aston Villa: N/A